I'm thrilled to share that I will be participating in the 2023 New York City Marathon on behalf of Opportunity International as a founding member of Team Opportunity! This is an effort to raise awareness and financial support for women living in extreme poverty in Malawi.
This summer, I was incredibly fortunate to spend 10 weeks in Malawi working for Opportunity International. I traveled throughout the country conducting interviews with some of the entrepreneurs Opportunity International has been supporting. I was able to learn first-hand about these individuals' successes, challenges, and dreams.
As a college student from the US, hearing some of our clients’ stories was personally eye-opening as I began to grasp what they overcome daily. But at the same time, their stories are exceptionally inspiring. Two themes that stood out to me were their resilience and endurance. Using only their feet or a simple bicycle, these men and women can trek up to 30 miles a day through hilly farmland and dirt roads, EVERY DAY, to buy and sell items for their businesses, get food for their families, and ensure that their children can receive an education.
When I was asked to participate in the Marathon, I thought it was a no-brainer, even though my longest-running race was a 5k! Some of the people I met in Malawi would perform a similar task daily for their family’s livelihood. The least I could do is complete 26.2 miles once, I thought!
I’d be honored if you would consider financially supporting Opportunity’s Graduation Program, as every contribution will make an impact. For example, one of the entrepreneurs I met with was Mallta, a single 33-year-old mother of six. She told me, “With only $70 in startup funds and business management training, I was able to start a farm produce business. For my business, I walk around the nearby villages to sell my produce, but I will also go down the hill to the main road to sell my products. This business generates a profit of $20-30/week. As a result, I am now able to provide three meals a day (including adding bananas and avocados) for my family, wash clothes with soap, and send my children to school.”
Not only are there tangible benefits, but the hope generated by Mallta and her family is priceless. All of these impacts were beyond her wildest dreams before the support of Opportunity International.
“My life now and what it used to be are like two different people,” she explained. There are hundreds of stories like this; the program is making a real impact!
It is truly a privilege to contribute to the work that Opportunity International is doing and tell the stories of these incredible entrepreneurs. If unable to support them financially, I ask that you share the stories of these individuals with a friend or family member. I am grateful for your support!